Pompano Beach’s Drone Show Extravaganza returns for its fifth year with 500 drones lighting up the night sky

Pompano Beach, Florida – Pompano Beach is bringing back one of its most anticipated fall events, with the Drone Show Extravaganza set to return for its fifth year above the Atlantic Ocean. The free celebration will take place Saturday, November 7, during Veterans Day Weekend, giving residents and visitors another chance to gather along the shoreline for an evening of music and an aerial display.

The event will be held near the Fisher Family Pier at 222 N. Pompano Beach Boulevard. Spectators are encouraged to watch from the beach just south of the pier, where hundreds of illuminated drones will fill the night sky.

The festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue through 9 p.m. Live entertainment will lead into the main attraction, with the drone show scheduled for 7 p.m.

Firefly Drone Shows will produce this year’s aerial performance. The 15-minute presentation will use 500 illuminated drones, all choreographed to music. The display will include patriotic tributes as well as designs inspired by Pompano Beach’s coastal setting.

The event has a history that goes back to 2022, when the City of Pompano Beach launched what it described as South Florida’s first municipal drone show. That first production helped establish a new type of public celebration, and other municipalities around Florida later followed the trend.

Five years after its debut, the event has become a familiar part of Pompano Beach’s fall calendar. Large crowds have gathered in previous years, with families, local residents and visitors spreading blankets across the sand to watch the drones move above the ocean.

This year’s return comes after a change in the city’s plans. Pompano Beach had decided not to include the Drone Show Extravaganza in its budget this year as part of an effort to reduce expenses. That could have brought the annual event to an end, at least for this year.

Instead, local businesses and Firefly Drone Shows stepped in to help keep the celebration going.

Support from businesses in Pompano Beach’s Fishing Village, along with Firefly Drone Shows, made it possible for the city to bring the event back without the same budget commitment. Their support means the public can once again attend the show free of charge.

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The evening will include more than the drones. Music will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a DJ before a party band from Junior’s Entertainment Group takes the stage. The band will perform a selection of Top 40 and retro songs, giving the crowd entertainment before and after the aerial presentation.

At 7 p.m., attention will turn toward the ocean as the 500 drones take to the sky. The machines will form changing patterns and images above the water as they move in coordination with the music.

The Fisher Family Pier will close before the show. Because of the expected crowds and closures, organizers are encouraging people to plan their arrival in advance.

Free shuttle service will be expanded for the event. Shuttles will begin operating at 1 p.m. from Pompano Community Park at 1660 NE 10th Street. The buses will be ADA accessible and will have room for coolers and lawn chairs, making the service useful for families planning to spend several hours at the beach.

The event itself is free and open to the public. Visitors can gather on the beach south of the Fisher Family Pier for the show. The combination of live music, the oceanfront setting and the large-scale drone display is expected to make for a full evening rather than a short fireworks-style appearance.

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People who cannot make it to the beach will still have an opportunity to watch the presentation. The City of Pompano Beach will broadcast the Drone Show Extravaganza live on its YouTube channel, @mypompanobeach, as well as on Comcast Channel 78, Digital 1092.

The return of the event also highlights how community partnerships can help preserve local traditions. What began in 2022 as a new municipal experiment has grown into an annual gathering that brings people together along Pompano Beach’s shoreline.

With 500 drones planned for this year’s performance, the fifth edition will once again turn the sky over the Atlantic into the backdrop for the city’s celebration. The beachside festivities will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the main 15-minute drone performance beginning at 7 p.m.

Additional information about parking, shuttle service, beach access, closures and other event details is available through the City of Pompano Beach’s event information page. The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, with free admission for those attending in person.